Track-cleaner



' UNITED STATES" PATENT EEicE.

y FRANK M. BIOKELBERGER, OFy HYDE PARK, OHIO, AssIcNoR OF ONE-HALETowILLIAM BAUER, OE OAKLEY, OHIO;

TRACK-C LEAN ER.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,229, dated March29, 1898.

l Application iiled December20, 189,7. Serial No. 662,599. (No model.)

To all whom t may concer-72,:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. BIOKELBER- GER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Hyde Fark, Hamilton county, State of Ohio,have invented a certain new and useful Track-Cleaner; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of theinvention, such' as will enable others skilled in the art to whichitappertains to make and use the same, attention being called to theaccompanying drawings,with the reference-numerals marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

This invention relates to means for cleaning tracks, particularly suchhaving grooved rails. A type of such a rail now frequently used in theconstruction of street-railway systems is the so-called Johnson rail,being a rail having a flat face with a narrow groove in the same. Toprevent iilling up of these grooves, frequent cleaning must be resortedto, which is accomplished in various ways, frequently by devices usedmanually. My invention provides a construction whereby such a device isattached to a car and operates in-such a manner that it requires nofurther attention when once put in operative position. Means arefurnished for adjusting the device to the position mentioned and also toone in which it is inoperative, and it is supported in a manner to becapable of an independent lateral movement of the car-body to be capableof following the track at curves.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in theclaims, is found a full description of the invention, its operation,parts, and lconst-ruction, which latter is also illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is part of a vertical sectionof the lower part of a car, showing parts of the same near the frontplatform. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the lower front part of a car.Fig. 3 is an under side view of the part of a car above mentioned. Fig.4 isan enlarged detail view showing top view of a fragment of rail witha part of my device applied. Fig. 5 is a detail View of a modifiedconstruction of the scraper-points.

7 is the car-Hoor, 8 one of the supportingwheels, and 9 the lgroovedrails. The direct means for cleaning the rails are two scraperpoints 1111 of dimensions to fit the grooves and.carried on bars 12 12. They mayform integral parts thereof or may be removably connected, as shown inFig. 5, to provide for renewal. These parts are shaped as shown,

.the scraper-points being directed upwardly and inclined rearwardly, andthence with an abrupt turn run forwardly in line with bars 12, the endsof which are secured to a rockshaft 13. This rock-shaft is carried in abearing 14 and has secured to it, extending forwardly, a yoke-shapedlever 15, elevation of which lowers the scraper-points into operativeposition and depression of which renders the latter inoperative. lever15 an operating-lever 16 is provided, pivoted at 17 and provided at itslower end, below the front platform,with lateral enlargements, in whicha cam-slot 18 is formed. Connection between this slot and lever 15 ismade For so moving this by a pin 19, extending from this latter into ithe former. A nut 21 is provided at the extreme end of this pin tomaintain connection between the parts. When the scraper-points are notin operative position-that is, downthis lever occupies a notch 22 withina guard 23, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. For operation it issimply released from this notch, whereupon a spring 24, held thus farexpanded by its contractive force, raises lever 15 and lowers thescraper-points into the grooves of the rails, where they are held by thecontinued action of said spring.

To enable the scraper-points to follow the rails around curves, they aregiven a lateral adjustment independent of the car-body. For-such purposebearing 14, which supports rock-shaft 13, is carried on a base 25, whichis pivotally secured below the car-floor. In detail this connection isby bolts 26, passing through two curved -slots 27 in base 25 and seatedin a plate 28, bolted to the under side of the car-floor. To steady therock-shaft in these swinging movements, additional supports 29 areprovided near its end, having supporting-shoes 31 above, which areiitted into and move in ways 32, concentric with the swinging' center ofthe shaft and also secured to the car-floor.

IOO

Springs 34 are pronormal position. The matter lifted up out of therail-grooves is thrown aside by blades 33, projecting sidewise from thescraperpoints, somewhat above their lowest extremity, and moving abovethe face on top of the rails. The rails may be conveniently cleaned inthis manner by a car while making its regular trip without requiring anyextra time or labor.

It is not contemplated that everycar should carry one of these devices,and the equipment with it of one car to a division may in most cases besuicient.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1. In combination with acar-body, a rockshaft 13 pivotally supported below the same, bars 12connected thereto carrying scraperpoints at their ends, a lever 15 forrocking shaft 13, a spring 24 with a normal tendency to elevate lever 15and correspondingly depressing the scraper-points, an operating-leverfor actuating lever 15, a guard within which the latter moves and anotch 22 therein which normally receives lever 15, thereby holding thescraper-points elevated against the action of the spring.

2. In combination with a car-body, a rockshaft 13, pivotally supportedbelow the same, bars 12 connected thereto carrying scraperpoints attheir ends, ayoke-shaped lever 15 for rocking shaft 13, anoperating-lever 16 having lateral extensions below provided with acam-slot 1S and a pin 19 on the yoke-shaped lever occupying this slotfor the purpose described.

3. In combination with a car-body, a rockshaft 13, a bearing 14 in whichit is pivotally supported, bars 12 with scraper-points supportedthereon, means for raising and lowering the same and a pivotalconnection whereby bearing 14 is secured below the car-floor in a mannerto permit the rock-shaft to swing in a horizontal plane.

4. In combination with a car-body, a rockshaft 13, acentral bearing 14and lateral bearings 29 in which it is pivotally supported,scraper-points carried by shaft 13, means for rocking it to raiseorlower the scraper-points, a pivotal connection whereby the centralbearing is secured below the car-iioor and ways 32 which adjustablysupport the outer bearings.

5. In combination with a car-body, a rockshaft 13, a bearing 14 in whichit is pivotally supported, said bearing being in turn pivotally securedbelow the car-iioor to permit the rock-shaft to swing also inahorizontal plane, scraper-points carried in the latter and a lever 15for rocking it land an operating-lever 16 for actuating lever 15.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK M. BICKELBERGER.

Vitnesses:

C. SPENGEL, ARTHUR KLINE.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 601,229.

It is hereby Certified that in Letters Patent No. 601,229, granted March29, 1898, upon the application of Frank M. Biekelberger, of Hyde Park,Ohio, for an improvement in Track-Cleaners, an errorappears in theprinted specification requiring correction,

as follows: In line 32, page 1, the Word of should read on; and that thesaid Letters A Patent should loe read with this correction therein thatthe saine may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Oiee.

Signed, eountersigned, and sealed this 12th day of April, A. D., 1898.

[SEAL] WEBSTER DAVIS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interion Countersigned:

C. H. DUELL,

Commissioner of Patents.

